Jessica Jewellery Design

Knitting and Stitching Show - Harrogate 2011

2011-11-29T14:00:00.010Z

Well this was a great opportunity, I was selected by Cra ft Guerrilla to exhibit at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show. The idea was to allow a group of contemporary craft makers from a variety of disciplines to platform their work at the show.

We had a 2mx2m stand each, down in the basement, Hall E along with a variety of guilds and college stands. We were also situated at the end where all the workshops took place which all looked very interesting. At the opposite end was the foody section which actually worked really well as there was a lovely rush of people who wandered past after having lunch.

I was amazed at how well we were received and I met so many lovely people, as most of the visitors were crafters themselves they were very appreciative of the work that goes into the pieces we make as well as being interested in how we make the work. I also launched buttons for the first time and they went really well so will be getting them onto the website very soon....watch this space!!

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An Inspiring Trip

2011-11-01T08:42:00.019Z

Well the last weekend in October saw Jessica Jewellery Design take a break. Weekend away with 9 others and 2 babies, it was a full house!! Way out in little remote cottage near Cargill, with its beautiful surroundings. No phone reception and although access to WI Fi managed to resist the urge to check the work e-mails! I had hurt my back a few days before, so walking far wasn't really an option but think we made the most of our trip and enjoyed group meals at the local pub/ or round the big dining room table. Just taking it easy really, such peaceful surroundings (although windy and drizzly) , managed to get a few ideas down in the sketchbook and took lots of pics.

Views from the Cottage

Trip to a waterfall nearby that was just hidden away, was great view and you could go right behind the water!

With it being Halloween weekend we obviously had to get into the spirit of things!

The drive home.......

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Liverpool Arts

2010-12-02T11:34:00.007Z

It was time for a holiday!!! After the busy time I've had over the last couple of months I decided to have a break. I have always been interested to take a look round Liverpool and arts so thats were I went! We were lucky that we accidently caught the Liverpool Biennial which is a festival for contemporary art. There was a full programme of events and an art trail to follow. This consisted of installations and public art. We also visited the Tate and the docks.

My three favourite things were the Tate body sculpture exhibition, the Touch and Go windows, in a dissused building and the Richard Wilson Sculpture See photos.....

All well worth a visit!

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Middlesbrough Craft Fair

2010-11-30T16:26:00.009Z

Well on a very snowy Sunday I took part in the Designer Marketplace Christmas fair. It was touch and go as to wheather anyone was going to make it or venture out in the snow!! However people did come which was great. It took place in Middlesbrough town hall which is a fab building with lots of character. There was a brill atmosphere with Christmas tunes playing, and a little glass of mulled wine was of course needed to keep warm!! Below are a selection of pics of me setting up plus some winter photos of Middlesbrough!!

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Origin

2010-11-30T16:02:00.002Z

Well a day trip to London it was, to take a look round this years Origin. It has now moved and took over the inside of Spitalfields Market. It was quite bizarre walking into the market and being confronted by a 10ft high pink/purple box in which the exhibitors where showing.

We went for a little lunch first with plenty of little snack bars to choose from we opted for a little chinese. The it was time to join the que........30mins later we finally got in! There was some lovely works on show and lots of unusual things it was hard to resist!! These are just a few designers that I really liked just click on the link to see their sites Angela Fung Jewellery, Lisa Swerling and Clare Willard.

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Crakehall- Sale

2010-11-30T15:19:00.004Z

This was a little bit of fun for a few of us Bedale business ladies, we got together and sold off some of our wares, at rock bottom prices just to make room for new things!! The little crakehall village hall was a lovely setting and we had a good stream of mums and friends etc coming for a look round and to pick up some goodies. We each also donated a selection of homemade cakes(from the pick I'm sure you'll agree.....yummy) and had tea and coffee available, all proceeds from this went to charity. It was good fun!!

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Website Work

2010-10-07T19:54:00.010+01:00

Work continues on the website. I had no idea how much work is involved but I'm learning!! I now have a new front page to the site which I hope to keep updated on on the latest news and events that are going on with Jessica Jewellery Design. Also all pages have been sightly altered and more images added where required. There is now a great interactive map on the stockist page where you can click on your area of the country and find your nearest stockist.

Worked hard to re arrange the trade and shop catalogues. The trade catalogue is now based more on my printed catalogue and give customers a good overview of the ranges I supply. The shop also has a completly new layout which I hope will make it easier for people to take a look round all the products, more of which are constantly being added so please pop my site on your favourites bar and keep poping back!!

Visit www.jessicajewellerydesign.co.uk

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Swinton Park - Deer Park BBQ

2010-09-29T21:32:00.003+01:00

In the summer a group of fellow Bedale business ladies and I got together for a bit of a night out. It is really hard when you work for yourself to remember there is a world out there, and that other people are having the sames trials and tribulations as you!! So a small group of us get together and compare notes. We decided on this occasion though to have a great social event. This was something really unusual, its a BBQ in the middle of a field at the deer park in a lovely little deer shed. There was only room for maybe 25 people but that was good. There was a small bar at hand and food was served. LOVELY!! The meat was yum and a good range of salads etc to go with it, a buffet set up to just help yourself. Then pudding was a sort of Eton mess/trifle or profiteroles.....we were cheeky and had a bit of both!!! There were too big fires burning which kept us warm and after great food and chat we all headed on our way.

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IJL

2010-09-27T17:24:00.014+01:00

Well International Jewellery London was a great experience. The scale of the show was mad compared to other shows I have done. Also the variety of people showing was really interesting, in the Design Gallery where I was were a range of smaller jewellery businesses mainly makers but also some small companies. You were then surrounded by the really big companies such as your watches - Rolex etc and all the main brands of jewellery you see on the high street, lots of massively expensive diamonds, all sorts. Great to see, but have to be honest it was a bit intimidating!!

After an interesting journey into London I managed to get my work set out quite smoothly which was good. Set up days are always a bit mad but you just need to concentrate on your stand and on what your doing. I did underestimate the height of the stands so there was a bit of a hunt on for step ladders (as the mini steps we brought were not high enough!)

Once the show opened it was a slow start while we waited for the ques of people to get in. It was wonderful to have my work recognized from the award I won. A lot of people wandering past commented 'didn't you win an award...' I also saw quite a few faces of stockists I supply which was great. A couple who even though having stocked work with them for years I had never actually met in person, with the age of e-mails, so it was really lovely.

The tube strike really didn't help and think more buyers would have come if it hadn't been for that. It was fairly quiet on both the Monday and Tuesday, although the transport was only really badly affected on the Tue as I experienced!! The journey to the venue was normally taking 1hr-1.5hrs , however I set off on the Tuesday morning 6.30am and didn't arrive till 8.55am, not an experience I hope I have to repeat!!

I will be supplying some new galleries from the show so look out for details - here are a preview of a few with their websites - Stark Gallery, Polkadot Gallery and Jewell.

Back to the quiet life up north now just getting on with the orders!!!

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Window Shopping

2010-08-24T22:52:00.006+01:00

Well this is my latest shop window, 'Celebrating Summer' if I had to put a name to it!? Although summer seems to be at an end with all this rain thats been coming down! The jewellery featured in the windown display is a range called Bold Blossom available in the three colourwaves shown. All these items can be found on the website and are for sale.

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IJL Editors Choice Award 2010

2010-08-11T16:31:00.004+01:00

I was thrilled to receive a phone call letting me know I had won the Editors Choice award at this years International Jewellery London. Its a large trade show which is taking place this septemberr 3rd-5th at earls court 2, london. It is the only jewellery only trade show in the U.K. so its a great event that brings buyers from all over the world. It is the first year I have taken part and now feel ready to take the big step. Its a big show and I hope to get a lot from it in both experience, sales and new contacts.

Winning the award has been a good positive boost for me, it was my Alliums range that captured the judges. There are four catagories and I am a joint winner of the technical excellence category, follow link to see lovely IJL write up and for the Claire Adler podcast.

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Backyard Market

2010-07-11T14:23:00.018+01:00

Weekend in London...well on Friday we headed down to find out where the Backyard Market takes place. Its a part of London I haven't been to in many years. With the sun blazing down we started walking. There were plenty of funky little shops and we found the entrance to the market quite easily. We had plenty of time so headed over to Spitalfields Market to take a look round. On the way back I was very excited about a sample sale that was taking place of Orla Kiely bags and clothes, so had to treat myself to a couple of pieces.

Saturday was a really early start, unfortunatly there were lots of works on the transport system so that delayed quite a lot. We arrived to see that friday nights on Brick Lane must be very eventful see photo of chap that must have had a great night!

Once we got to the Market ready we got on with setting up. It was our first go at a London market so we didn't really know what to expect. Well we got all the work out and customers started coming through. My work was really well received. The other stall holders were really welcoming and friendly which was lovely and sold some really intersting things, it was hard to resist. The streets were fairly busy but lots of people said that Sunday was the busiest market day.

Sunday was an even earlier start, we managed to find a quick enough route though which was good. We sorted out the stand a little better for the Sunday and were really pleased with the display. See photos. There was a lot more going on we had no idea. When we got off the train we were suprised to see market stalls, including fruit and veg etc for at least a mile, then once we got to Brick Lane there were even more. As the day went on there were just more and more people. See photos of the streets of bricklane.

There were both more market stall holders and customers at the Backyard Market so that was good. It was another hot hot day and after packing up we headed off just as everyone was starting to settle into bars and continue to shop in the quirky little shops that are all around Brick Lane.

Just a final note to say a big thanks to Claire who was a big help and worked alongside me to set up and sell at the market. Also the photos used in this blog were taken by her. It was good fun and will possibly take part in future markets towards Christmas time. ***********************************************************************************

GNCCF 2010

2010-07-11T13:37:00.004+01:00

I am pleased to say that i have been accepted again to take part in this years Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester. The retail fair will be taking place October 21st - 24th 2010. Its a great show and a great opportunity to purchase handmade items from around 140 british makers either towards a birthday or Christmas or to just treat yourself. I am really excited to be taking part in this show again and hope there will be a few people who will remember my work from last year. I will be taking some of my most popular pieces as well as some brand new work.

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Contemporary Craft Fair 2010

2010-06-30T22:52:00.011+01:00

The show was great and I was so glad that the weather held out....

Arrived Wednesday.... Our 6 hour journey went without a problem and wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Got to the football pitch campsite and set up the tent. There were just porta loos which weren't as bad as I remember them, hot showers though which were great. We had a little wander into Bovey and got sorted at the supermarket and of course a pub!!

Thursday set up..... Got my display together (see pic) and then just got ready for the private view evening, drank a little cider and got chatting to loads of people.

Friday showtime....Beautiful day!! There were plenty of people about which made the day go quick. In the evening we deciced on a mini BBQ and a few games of gin rummy.... I'm pleased to say I won with a score of 153 to 10!!

Saturday and Sunday..... More great weather two more busy days and it was great to see a few customers enjoying wearing some of my jewellery they had purchased at one of my stockists Nicola Hurst in Plymouth. The Saturday eve we went out to an exhibitors party, an event put together by the organiser and it was great. We got a bus up to a farm who served the most amazing buffet and then we had a performance of jazz which I really enjoyed. Sunday morning was time to pack up I left the tent to be packed up whilst I sold on the last day of the show, it went really well and then it was time to head home..... just as we were getting the last of the stand in the car the rain started to fall!! Got back pretty late but did mean I had the whole of Monday off!!

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Bovey Tracey, Contemporary Craft Fair

2010-06-09T08:02:00.011+01:00

Well time is up!! The show is nearly here and I have been busy preparing. The run up to a show always seem to mad no matter how well I plan it always seems to creep up me. This is a retail show so have had to make plenty of stock to take with me. The ranges I'm taking are Leaves, Alliums, Look to the Sky and East Coast (see images) then a mixed selection of bangles and brand new cufflinks.

Its the first time I've exhibited at the Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey so really looking forward to it! I did take a look round as a visitor last year and it was great it was a little bit more unusual to other fairs I've been to, in that it has a real festival atmosphere. Alongside the 3 main Contemporary Craft marquees there are open air demonstrations and childrens activity tents punch and Judy etc.

Hope to see lots of you there the show opens this Friday (11th June) 10-5 until Sunday. Come visit my stand C19!

BCTF 2010 - New Ranges are a hit!!

2010-04-27T23:29:00.020+01:00

Well another BCTF year and it was really good! The British Craft Trade Fair was really busy this year. My work had some great feedback and the new ranges were really well received. It was the same four day event. I went in first thing Saturday morning to start setting up, taking my time as I always do!! Sunday is the first day open to trade, then its open Monday and Tuesday and the mad pack up takes place Tuesday from 5!!! Photo of my display below.

Anyhow back to the actual show.... this year I launched two new ranges Cartwheel Flower and Manmade, plus a complete collection of cufflinks which have proved really popular. You can see the images for each if you click on the links also see selected images below.

The blue range features silhouetted images of a Cartwheel Flower, this range is made up of a new curve design as well as triple segment pieces.

Manmade consist of a variety of bangles using images of various buildings and structures from across the county that have interested me. I also made up some matching earrings and pendants.

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Leeds Exhibition

2010-03-27T22:47:00.007Z

Taking part in a Park Life exhibtion, at the Leeds Craft and Design Centre, which opened Saturday 27th March. Its a collection of craft makers showing a variety of works around the theme of the great outdoors. Jewellery I have on show are from the Look to the Sky and Leaves ranges. Its a great gallery for contemporary craft worth taking alook!

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Trip to the Baltic

2010-03-27T22:26:00.011Z

A few weeks back I took a trip to Newcastle to visit the Baltic and took the opportunity to have a walk along the river.

At the Baltic I saw a great exhibition by Martin Parr, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The exhibition starts with a collection of photos taken by Parr. The show then continues to a collection of all sorts it really was an amazing collection of photos and memorobillia. I would love to be a fly on the wall in his house where must he store all the things!!

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Snow

2010-03-27T22:16:00.008Z

As with the rest of the country we had plenty of snow here in Yorkshire over the last few months. I love the snow and although it made driving a bit of a nightmare, walking to work was great.

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Cufflinks

2010-03-27T19:50:00.008Z

Just a quick blog entry I have been spending the last year working on making cufflinks. Lots of tests and experiments later I feel confident that I have come up with a solution! See images and cufflinks on website any comments welcome....I'm in the process of expanding the ranges.

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Shop Window

2010-03-17T08:50:00.015Z

Always looking at ways to improve the business I decided to take part in a window dressing course. My displays usually aren't too bad but my window is a definite weakness. The course was run by a lady called Helen from 'Made you Look'. It was really interesting and covered all areas of window dressing and general merchandising. There was a 'Yorkshire Day' in Bedale and the aim was to have the new and improved window ready.

Then Christmas came and this was the next window challenge for me, but I was looking forward to it. Opted for a gold and white theme which I continued in the shop. Take a look at the before (left) and after (right) below and let me know what you think!

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Hello.....

2010-03-16T21:41:00.015Z

Hello all, I've been away for a fair old while having a few technical difficulties but I'm back now and hopefully able to get on with blog writing again. I have been up to a few things over the last few months and I'll start with the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair......

After a couple of months preparation and a lot of nerves later it was time to take part in my first retail show, The Great Northern Contempoary Craft Fair in Manchester.

This show took place at Spinningfields in the heart of Manchester, the fair gave the public a great opportunity to buy original contemporary craft directly from the UK’s leading designer-makers. There were over 350 applicants and I was very excited to be one of the 140 chosen exhibitors to showcase her work.

I decided to take a fairly broad range of my jewellery, I made plenty of bangles and earrings which seem to be the most popular items. I also worked hard on making a new stand, as I felt I needed to have a slightly different approach to a retail show rather than a trade show, I also didn't have use of a van so compact sprung to mind!! (see image above)

The show was incredibly busy with plenty of people coming through the door. My work was really well received, it was a great experience. I am now working on my next retail show which will be down in Bovey Tracey in June.

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Dalesman Weekend

2009-11-16T20:24:00.012Z

This was an annual event that took place in Bedale, in conjunction with the Wensleydale Railway. There is a steam train running and there are events at each station. There are reenactors brought in and shops are encouraged to decorate in a wartime fashion. As my workshop is right at the station I decided to decorate the out side of my shop (see picture), it was great with old vehicles driving past and soldiers marching back and forth. It was a little surreal that a lot of those dressed in period clothes were happy to come do a little shopping! Looking forward to next year already.

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NYOS

2009-09-22T21:13:00.010+01:00

Well this years North Yorkshire Open Studios was a real success, this is a great event and I really enjoy taking part. It took place over two weekends which this year were June 20/21 and 26/27/28.

Open Studios events take place all over the country and different areas organise their own events, its worth keeping an eye out. With this years North Yorkshire Open Studios just over 100 artists and makers were chosen to open up their studios to the public. For me it was a really positive year I did really well. The Saturdays where my busiest days and consisted of a variety of visitors from those following the NYOS art trail and just those passing. The nicest thing for me was those following the route are taking time to specifically visit you and its great being able to talk to people that want to see how things are made and have a passion for arts and crafts.

I had more visitiors than last year so it was a real sucess and hope I'll be able to take part again next year.

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'Holiday'

2009-07-22T08:52:00.026+01:00

In this blog entry I'll just tell you a little about my trip away, went on a bit of a road trip across the Uk which was great and has helped boost inspiration towards my work.

The trip started with my first camping experience at the Lake District! It was beautiful and thankfully the weather was on our side. Well there was plenty of scenery to take in and I was particularly taken by the Beatrix Potter experience. I went round the gallery which had a variety of her peter rabbit drawings on display, then up to the hill top cottage it was amazing. (I even managed my own snapshot of nature in the Potter garden with this little Robin that decided to say hello.)

At the end of the week I headed to visit a friend in somerset and whilst there decided to take the opportunity to visit the contemporary craft fair at Bovey Tracey which happened to be taking place that weekend.

I wasn't sure what to expect, when we approached I was surprised to find that the fair was under a variety of marquees in a large field. However it was great there was a real festival atmosphere.

There were 3 main marquees which housed a variety of contemporary crafts including works by Lesley Strickland (bangle picture), Becky Crow, Penny Warren, Jane Cummins (handbag picture) and many many more it was hard to resist spending, but I was sure to get my Christmas wish list started!

In the central area was more traditional crafts on show and being demonstrated such as ceramics and blacksmithing. The rest of the marquees were dedicated to children with a Punch and Judy show and craft tents where kids can use their imagination and create till their hearts content.

I would love to take part next year so watch this space and I'll keep you posted on my progress.

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Still here....

2009-07-17T22:26:00.004+01:00

I'm still here..... Sorry for lack of blog updates but the good news is that I have been really busy so can't complain!! Well where to start.... I took part in a second Henshaw Arts Centre Craft fair in Knaresborough at the end of may, which I decided to take part in due to the success of April. Its was a fantastic day very hot hot hot, I had a great outdoor pitch... however the weather seemed to work against us and sadly there were hardly any people out and about, well looking round a craft fairs and shops anyhow. We heard that the whole population of Knaresborough had taken themselves down to the River...... admittedly the only place to be on such a hot, sunny, beautiful day. I treated myself this time to the irresistible crumble which was peach and pear with ice cream......YUMMMM..... It was still fun to take part and I will possibly take part in another in the future. I would recommend any one passing or visiting the area the last Sunday of the month just to go have a look and treat yourself to some lunch.

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Busy Times.....

2009-05-14T15:39:00.017+01:00

Well I have been very busy over that last couple of weeks. On Sunday the 26th of April I took part I the craft fair at Henshaws Arts Centre in Knaresborough. It was only a very small craft fair with about 7 stall holders. The craft fair is to the back of the Heshaws cafe which offer some lovely treats. I was told by other stall holders that it was particularily quiet, however I didn't do too bad so I have signed up to take part in another fair taking place on the 31st May, I think I will also have to give the apple crumble a try!

I am also very excited to say that i have now set up and Etsy shop page. I plan to sell more unusual and one off items on this, so far I have included some pink and lilac jewellery and some peach sunset pieces , please take a look at http://www.jessicasherriff.etsy.com/ (be aware that all items are priced in dollars but will be converted to pounds when purchased so will cost a little less in £.) You can also have a sneak preview via my mini etsy to the left hand side.

New gallery..... I am taking part in the Rarefind exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery please follow link to their website and and pdf programme is availiable to download (please contact me for details).

Work continues with the orders from the Harrogate Trade Fair. A couple of my brand new stockists are Bianco Nero in Stokesly and The Nancy Smillie Shop in Glasgow the work will be ready for sale over the next week or so.

I also have the North Yorkshire Open Studios coming up. I think its a great scheme run by art connections. A variety of artists and makers will be taking part across Yorkshire. The project means over two weekends artists and makers open their studios to the public so people can see arists and work and purchase unique items direct. The days that the studios are open will be sat 20 sun 21 June and fri 26 sat 27 sun 28 June. They have set up a great website which gives all the information about the artists and makers taking part, NYOS09. I have also added the link to the left under my link bar. Also my Dahlia bangle image (above) has been used on the front cover of the booklet and catalogue as well as promotional posters. I have also just found out a photo of 'me at work' will be featured somewhere in the June issue of Living North so keep an eye out!

Also I am now on twitter so just follow the link from my link bar if you want to follow.

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Happy Easter..... BCTF update

2009-04-12T19:23:00.015+01:00

Well a happy Easter to you all and I hope you are all managing to enjoy a bit of a break. I have managed to take a couple of days off to recover from the show, which thankfully went really well. There was apprehension from everyone I think as no one knew what to expect from the three day event. The worst case scenario would have been no or very few buyers. But thankfully many buyers came, I really felt there was a positive vibe in amongst all the doom and gloom we have heard in the press. I managed to receive a good few orders which is great and have some new stockists to add to my list. There was lots of positive feedback about my work and display and about the overall show. So it was a real success. So I'm busy getting on with my orders as well as work for the up and coming exhibitions.

My 2009 display

The next event is the Henshaws craft fair. This is only a small event and I plan to sell a variety of items as well as my jewellery. I will be selling a small range of work on show on my website as well as a selection of thin rainbow colour bangles. I will also take a range of my handmade cards, painted glasses and tea lights, hand painted silk scarves and knitted scarves, the work is about ready for this, just need to sort how I'm going to put the display together.

I have also signed up with Etsy, its a great website which allows makers to sell their work, I'm just in the process of getting the details ready to up load my items. I plan to sell more limited edition items of my work that are just one offs now and are probably not going to be repeated again. I will keep my blog posted with progress.

Well I think that's all my news for now, enjoy the rest of the bank holiday.

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One day to go!

2009-04-03T09:48:00.001+01:00

Well its the British Craft Trade Fair setting up day tomorrow which always proves to be a bit hectic. I think all preparations are in place, I put a final coat of paint on my stands last night so fingers crossed they should be all dry today ready to head off in the van sat. All the work is ready and I'm really excited to be showing 3 brand new ranges (see blog images), Alliums, East Coast and B&W Drawings which are available to preview on my website. I am also taking a few other popular ranges as well that I'm sure buyers will be interested in. I've had a few late nights preparing for this what with printer problems whilst trying to print price lists and running out of paper, trying to get press information together etc. However after tomorrow I'm sure it will have all come together nicely and I can just enjoy speaking to customers about my work!

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What I've been up to......

2009-03-24T20:50:00.001Z

I have a few events coming up over the next few weeks which I am also preparing for alongside the run up to the BCTF which is now only about a week and a half away! I hope the weather continues as it is at the moment as i remember the BCTF at the beginning of april last year was heavy snow forecast which i think made a lot of buyers shy away from the sunday..... but fingers crossed spring is now here to stay.

Anyhow the few things coming up are a small craft fair in Knaresborough which I'm going to try out and she how it goes. I went to see it at Valentines weekend and it seemed a nice place I
would recommend a visit.

I am also taking part in an exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park throughout the summer. A great place for my work to be sold surrounded by the sculptural structures and countryside.

I'm also working towards a May exhibition which is being held at the Zillah Bell Gallery in Thirsk. They hold various exhibitions throughout the year and the May exhibition is interpretations of the White Horse of Kilburn by invited artists. This is interesting as it is locally topical, I spent the other day taking pictures of anything that inspired me around Kilburn and the White Horse. I think I'll be able to use some of them to create some interesting jewellery. I have added a couple of pictures so you can see the beautiful surroundings.

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Jessica at Work - Part 2

2009-03-16T20:27:00.001Z

As i said in one of my previous blogs i wanted to give you an in sight into how i create my work. The acrylic does have to go through a variety of processes to become jewellery. All my work starts with a flat sheet of acrylic. The bangles for example first get cut into the correct size, then i print my image onto the surface of the acrylic, this will become the inside surface. I then bend the flat piece. At this point the bangles don't look much so the next step is to cut the ends off which also gives me flexibility with sizing. I then have to take the surfaces through a variety of sanding stages. Once this is complete i then have to polish the surfaces (see image from Jessica at Work blog). After these processes you have a finished bangle - see image. It is very time consuming but enjoy working with acrylic and feel going from a flat sheet to a wearable unique pieces of jewellery is very satisfying.

Progress with BCTF continues, all the invites have been sent and I am getting all the work finalised. The website now has a catalogue showing a good selection of my work that will be shown for all those that would like a preview or can't attend due to not having a trade connection.

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"News"

2009-02-28T09:25:00.001Z

Just a quick blog with some good news I received a couple of days ago. I went to a local business meeting and one of the ladies said "congratulatons..... on the article..." I didn't have a clue, until she pulled out Wednesdays copy of the Yorkshire Post. There was a supplement which feaured the 100 Bright Young Things (the regions top 100 people under 30 most likely to suceed.) I was one of them! So there was a little piece written about me. (I have attached a copy of the article to this blog just click on image to enlarge it.)

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Jessica at Work

2009-02-20T20:49:00.001Z

I thought some of you might be interested in getting a little glimpse into how I actually make my jewellery. I am a jeweller but people are always surprised how i make my work. Acrylic jewellery requires more machines than small tools. So my workshop i think looks a little different from the 'jewellers workbench' that people have in their minds. In these pictures you can see me working on one of my vital machines, the polisher (left) and on my mini drill, which I need for my earrings and pendants (below) . I still have a small metal working area for making earring wires and for any soldering work required, but a lot of my time is spent working on the acrylic. I have to work through a variety processes to achieve my final pieces (which i will discuss further in my next blog).

Work for the BCTF continues and a large stack of trade invites have now arrived on my desk so its full steam ahead stuffing envelopes to get the invites out. Work is making good progress and some new designs are ready to be launched in April.

An update of current exhibitions and stockists

I have been taking part in a Valentines exhibition at the Fg2 Gallery in Leicestershire; my work is currently still showing and the exhibition runs from 14th Jan and runs till the 14th Mar:- http://www.fgtwo.co.uk/ (see invite right, centre image featured shows a variety of my pendants.)

I also have two new stockists one in Ripon at the Hornseys Gallery:- http://www.hornseys.com/ and also the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate:- http://www.artguide.org/museums.php?id=1515553M. (See links for information and directions.)

Also thanks to all those who have voted for me in the Craft and Design Magazine Select awards so far, but there is still time so i hope everyone will continue to vote, please go to previous post for details.

Thanks again!
Jessica

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Jessica Jewellery Design

2009-02-13T14:22:00.001Z

Let me introduce myself....my name is Jessica Sherriff, company Jessica Jewellery Design and I create an individual range of contemporary Acrylic Jewellery. Capturing and drawing inspiration from the colours and views of the Yorkshire countryside, I use a unique printing technique which allows me to use my own photographic images to create my jewellery. Colours and designs are both subtle and vivid, suiting a wide variety of tastes.

See my website http://www.jessicasherriffjewellery.co.uk/

At the moment i am working on a variety of projects. The main focus is my forthcoming British Craft Trade Fair show which takes place April 5th, 6th, 7th 2009 at the Great Yorkshire Showground. I'm taking plenty of time to create new designs to feature in the show as well as combining it with my more popular pieces. There is still lots to organise with what work to show, the display, press releases, invites etc etc. I really enjoy the shows though and hope this year will again be a success.

Another note in my diary are the Craft and Design Magazine Select awards; I would really appreciate everyone reading this blog to vote for me within the Craft and Design Select awards. To explain......I am part of the Craft and Design magazine 'selected' section listed on their website which lists a variety of craft makers. The prizes would be of great benefit to help my business and obviously something else to add to the CV, to be in with a chance of winning I need votes, so i would be grateful if everyone could vote for me

Its pretty easy follow this link www.craftanddesign.net/awards (or cut and paste into browser) then scroll down to 'how to vote' and follow instructions.

The easiest way to find me is to click on the 'makers listings' link, then go to 's' and scroll down to find sherriff, jessica. Then that will take you to my page
http://www.craftmaker.co.uk/jessicasherriff and if you scroll to the bottom you can just click to vote.

I hope you will take a few minutes to do this.

MANY THANKS Jessica

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Coming Soon

2009-02-07T21:07:00.001Z

This Blog is a work in progress.

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